Pages

Sunday, 20 November 2011

What is Cancer?

Cancer, a class of diseases characterized by out-of- control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected. Cancer occurs when gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors; except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream. Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive nervous and circulatory systems and they can release hormones that alter the body functions. Tumors that stay in one spot demonstrate limited growth is generally considered to be benign. When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows,invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat. In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world.

How is cancer diagnosed and staged?

Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and Ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.

Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.

The bottom line is, if you are in the low class or middle class in terms on aspect of life, can you afford the test to diagnose the diseases in our bod?. The problem is, eventhough you have sufficient money but the time do not permit and if it is too late, then the money would be of no use. It is still best to prevent all these things rather than being sorry. Nowadays, severe diseases can occur to anyone regardless of age. But there are ways to prevent it. We can prevent to acquire certain diseases if we start to practice healthy lifestyle, healthy habits, healthy living, health and wealthness and to take into consideration the healthy options like taking food supplements made up of herbal ingredients which is available in market today.

Healthy options like diet supplements, more commonly known as food supplements, are preparations intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fibers, fatty acids, or amino acids that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person’s diet. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements as a category of foods, and not as drugs. While pharmaceutical companies are required to obtain FDA approval which involves assessing the risks and benefits prior to their entry in the market, dietary supplements do not need to be pre-approved by FDA before they can enter the market. These food supplements usually have a label “No Approved Therapeutic Claims” in their packaging which indicates that dietary supplements are not to be taken to cure diseases immediately, but to boost the mechanism of your immune system first and slow by slow help the body to recover and response againts killer diseases.

Philippine General Hospital reports that 13 Filipinos die of cancer every hour.